{{Infobox video game series|genre=Mecha, shoot 'em up, strategy|developer=Masaya Games, Dracue|publisher=NCS, DreamWorks, Konami, EXTREME Co., Ltd, Rising Star Games|first release version=''[[Target Earth (video game)|Assault Suit Leynos]]''|latest release version=''[[Assault Suit Leynos (2015 video game)|Assault Suit Leynos]]''|platforms=Sega Genesis, SNES, Sega Saturn, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 4, Windows|first release date=1990|latest release date=2015}}
'''''Assault Suit''''', also known as '''''Assault Suits''''', is a series of futuristic robotic war [[video game]]s developed by NCS featuring soldiers manning the eponymous gigantic humanoid [[mecha]]. Spanning the course of 15 years and beyond, the games were cross-distributed, cross-published and developed between the [[United States|U.S.]] and [[Japan]]. It is known as one of the most challenging series to follow due to the drastic changes from game to game.
==Releases== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Japan name ! US name ! EU name ! Release dates ! Game system ! Developer ! JP publisher ! US publisher ! EU publisher |- | ''[[Target Earth (video game)|Assault Suit Leynos]]'' | ''Target Earth'' | N/A | JP March 16, 1990 / US 1990 / no EU release | [[Sega Genesis]] | NCS | Masaya | DreamWorks | N/A |- | ''[[Assault Suits Valken]]'' | ''Cybernator'' | ''Cybernator'' | JP Dec 18, 1992 / US April 1993 / EU 1993 | [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]] | NCS | Masaya | [[Konami]] | [[Palcom]] |- | ''[[Assault Suit Leynos 2]]'' | N/A | N/A | JP February 17, 1997 / no US release / no EU release | [[Sega Saturn]] | NCS | Masaya | N/A | N/A |- | ''Assault Suits Valken 2'' | N/A | N/A | JP July 26, 1999 / no US release / no EU release | [[PlayStation]] | NCS | Masaya | N/A | N/A |- | ''[[Assault Suits Valken]]'' | N/A | ''Assault Suits Valken'' | JP August 26, 2004 / no US release / EU June 2005 | [[PlayStation 2]] | Soft Action<br>X-Nauts | X-Nauts | N/A | [[505 Game Street]] |- | ''[[Assault Suit Leynos (2015 video game)|Assault Suit Leynos]]'' | ''Assault Suit Leynos'' | ''Assault Suit Leynos'' | JP December 23, 2015 / US July 12, 2016 | [[PlayStation 4]], [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] | Dracue Software | EXTREME Co., Ltd | [[Rising Star Games]] | Rising Star Games |- | ''Assault Suits Valken DECLASSIFIED'' | ''Assault Suits Valken DECLASSIFIED'' | ''Assault Suits Valken DECLASSIFIED'' | March 30, 2023 | [[Nintendo Switch]] | [[M2 (game developer)|M2 Co., Ltd.]] | Rainmaker Productions | Rainmaker Productions | Rainmaker Productions |}
==The series==
===Assault Suit Leynos (Target Earth)=== ''[[Target Earth (video game)|Assault Suit Leynos]],'' released in North America as ''Target Earth'', is the first game in the series. It was released for the Sega Genesis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=7114|title=重装機兵レイノス [メガドライブ] / ファミ通.com|website=www.famitsu.com|access-date=2018-07-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727020447/https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=7114|archive-date=2018-07-27|url-status=live}}</ref>
One scene, where a comrade who doesn't make it back to the ship burns up in the atmosphere, was removed from the North American version.
===Assault Suits Valken (Cybernator)=== The success of the first Assault Suits game in [[Japan]] would spawn another game on the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super Famicom]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=8850|title=重装機兵ヴァルケン [スーパーファミコン] / ファミ通.com|website=www.famitsu.com|access-date=2018-07-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727145908/https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=8850|archive-date=2018-07-27|url-status=live}}</ref> The artwork style, assault armor concepts, as well as the dialogue engine would remain similar to that of Target Earth/Assault Suits Leynos, but with major graphical improvements. The US name [[Cybernator]] added confusion to [[United States|American]] gamers and disconnected many of the fans from the Target Earth roots. This game was actually a prequel to Assault Suit Leynos, taking place nearly a decade before.
''Cybernator'' was the subject of [[censorship]] during its [[Internationalization and localization|localization]]. The Japanese version featured written dialog accompanied by a portrait of the speaker, but for some reason, these portraits were removed during localization. There was also a scene absent in which the president of the enemy forces, after realizing that his nation has been defeated, commits [[suicide]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://gosokkyu.com/post/79857838404/assault-suits-valken-staff-round-table |title=Gosokkyu |access-date=2019-04-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170618000846/http://gosokkyu.com/post/79857838404/assault-suits-valken-staff-round-table |archive-date=2017-06-18 |url-status=live }}</ref> It is unknown whether [[Konami]] or [[Nintendo]] took action on these censorships.
An [[enhanced remake]] was released for the PS2 in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=10548|title=重装機兵ヴァルケン [PS2] / ファミ通.com|website=www.famitsu.com|access-date=2018-07-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726170151/https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=10548|archive-date=2018-07-26|url-status=live}}</ref>
An updated version of the original called ''Assault Suits Valken Declassified'' was released for the Nintendo Switch in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rainmaker-pro.com/games/valken/|title=Assault Suits Valken Declassified}}</ref>
===Assault Suit Leynos 2=== ''[[Assault Suit Leynos 2]]'' arrived on the [[Sega Saturn]] as the true sequel to [[Target Earth (video game)|Assault Suit Leynos]], but was released only in Japan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=8816|title=重装機兵レイノス2 [セガサターン] / ファミ通.com|website=www.famitsu.com|access-date=2018-07-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727001922/https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=8816|archive-date=2018-07-27|url-status=live}}</ref>
In September 2023, City Connection announced a re-release of the game as part of the ''Saturn Tribute'' label.
===Assault Suits Valken 2=== The sequel to the SNES title in the series was released on the [[PlayStation]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=8803|title=重装機兵ヴァルケン2 [PS] / ファミ通.com|website=www.famitsu.com|access-date=2018-07-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126185702/http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=8803|archive-date=2015-11-26|url-status=live}}</ref> It differed from the rest of the series, as it was a strategy/RPG, unlike the rest, all being action/shooter/platform titles. After the release in 1999, the same game would be reprinted by the company Four Winds on August 30, 2001.<ref name=":0" /> This game was never released outside Japan either.
===Assault Suit Leynos=== A remake of ''Assault Suit Leynos'' was released for the [[PlayStation 4]] and [[Microsoft Windows]] by Gunhound EX developer Dracue Software.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=30443|title=重装機兵レイノス [PS4] / ファミ通.com|website=www.famitsu.com|access-date=2018-07-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726234745/https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=30443|archive-date=2018-07-26|url-status=live}}</ref> Originally set to launch in late 2014 or early 2015, the game was delayed to December 2015 to allow the team to implement a cooperative mode as well as multiple endings.<ref name=siliconera>{{cite web |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2014/10/22/gunhound-ex-developer-making-mecha-shooter-ps4-multiple-endings/ |title=Gunhound EX Developer Is Making A Mecha Shooter For PS4 With Multiple Endings |date=2014-10-22 |accessdate=2014-10-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024095430/http://www.siliconera.com/2014/10/22/gunhound-ex-developer-making-mecha-shooter-ps4-multiple-endings/ |archive-date=2014-10-24 |url-status=live }}</ref> It finally released on July 12, 2016.<ref>{{Citation|last=PlayStation|title=Assault Suit Leynos - Gameplay Trailer {{!}} PS4|date=2016-06-30|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QvEZOU_xj4|accessdate=2016-07-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116194852/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QvEZOU_xj4|archive-date=2018-11-16|url-status=live}}</ref>
''Famitsu'' gave it a 26 out of 40 score.<ref name=":1" />
==See also== * ''[[Armored Core]]'' * ''[[Front Mission]]'' * ''[[Heavy Gear]]'' * ''[[Metal Warriors]]''
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.ncsx.co.jp/ NCS] *[http://www.starshipmodeler.com/mecha/rc_prevalk.html Starship Modeler] *{{moby game|id=-group/assault-suits-series|name=The ''Assault Suits'' series}}
{{italic title}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Assault Suit}} [[Category:Assault Suit| ]] [[Category:Video games about mecha]] [[Category:Video game franchises introduced in 1990]] {{Masaya Games}}